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From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
The Peter Obi Media Office (POMR) has condemned Vice-President Kashim Shettima over his description of the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, as “diminished”, accusing him of undermining political decency and engaging in selective respect for opposition leaders.
Shettima made the remark on Saturday in Abuja at the unveiling of the campaign headquarters of Arewa for Asiwaju (A4A), a northern coalition supporting the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and the Vice-President.
“Honestly, I am not afraid of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). I am not afraid of a diminished Peter Obi. But I am more afraid of internal contradictions within our household. If we unite as a people, as a family, we will conquer,” Shettima said.
The Vice-President also urged supporters to defeat former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar at the polls while maintaining respect for him.
“Go and perform. Go and defeat Baba Atiku. Defeat him respectfully,” he said.
However, in a statement on Sunday, POMR described Shettima’s remarks about Obi as disparaging, questioning why he would demand respect for one opposition leader while dismissing another.
The statement, signed by the media office’s spokesman, Idris Zekeri Jnr, said although Shettima was entitled to oppose Obi politically, his choice of words was inconsistent with the respect he advocated in relation to Atiku.
The office maintained that Obi had conducted his political engagements with decorum, focusing on issues rather than personal attacks against opponents.
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It also challenged Shettima to compare their records in office, noting that both men served as governors during the same period, with Obi governing Anambra State and Shettima leading Borno State.
According to POMR, Obi’s record in Anambra surpassed Shettima’s performance in Borno in key areas of governance, citing his administration’s fiscal discipline and investments in education and healthcare.
“If Shettima contests any aspect of Obi’s record, he should present the facts rather than resort to political name-calling,” the statement said.
POMR also urged South-East political leaders who had allegedly disrespected Obi to draw lessons from the episode, arguing that political differences should not justify disparagement of a fellow Nigerian.
The office specifically called on Igbo leaders in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Nigerians generally to resist the tendency to place political loyalty above mutual respect.
It insisted that opposition to Obi should be expressed through scrutiny of his policies, ideas and record rather than personal attacks.
“Nigeria needs a contest based on records and ideas, not selective respect and political denigration,” the statement said.
The media office added that Obi’s political relevance would ultimately be determined by Nigerians rather than the rhetoric of his political opponents.
“The Nigerian people, rather than Shettima’s rhetoric, will determine Peter Obi’s political relevance,” it said.
